The Portland daily press., 1887-03-02
FROM WASHINGTON.
A Bill to Prohibit Convict and Alien
Labor.
A Number of Maine People Visiting
Washington.
Not Much Probability Of an Extra
Session.
Prospect of an Agreement on the
Fishery RetaIlatory Bill.
Aggregate Increase of the Naval APP
priatIon Bill.
The Public Debt Statement for
February.
Especial to the PREssl

February.
Especial to the PREssl.
WASHINGTON, March 1.
The Senate committee on education and
labor has favorably reported, and the Senate
VIII probably pass before adjournment the
House bill to prohibit the employment of
convict and alien labor upon public build
and other public works, and convict labor in
the preparation of or manufacture Of mater
ials for public buildings o. other public
works. In their report the committee say;
THE purpose of this bill is to provide that the
expenditure Of the money, taken by taxation
from the American people, upon the public
works of the United States, whether for
wages, or materials which are created by
law, and therefore substantially on whole
are really paid ont Of the national treasury
for labor, shall be paid to honest and re-
specable American citizens, or to those who
having resided in our country six months,
shall have declared their intention to become
our fellow citizens. The practice prevails
largely along the line of Canada and else
where to pay out the appropriation for rivers
and harbors, public buildings. and for other
public purposes, to cheap labor from abroad,
which Immediately returns whence it came,
and to convict labor. or for materials pro-
duced by such labor, to the exclusion of our
own people, and to those who avail them
selves of the profits derived from
the half-paid toll Of the criminal classes.
The bill passed the House in July last.
Visiting ExcursIonIsts.
A large Raymond" excursion from New
England, numbering about 800, is here this
week, and the corridors of the Capitol are
daily thronged with them. Among them are
the following from Maine: E. P. Chase and
wife, Mrs. Albro E. Chase, Mrs. j. F. Fer
ris, Mr.. and Mrs. Hanson M. Hart, and j.
P. Tenney, all of Portland; Mr.. and Mrs.
John B. Smith Of Lewiston; T. B. Town
send Of North Anson; Mr.. and Mrs. W
Thompson Of Brunswick; Miss +. E. Max
well, w. K. Maxwell and Mrs. S. S. Good
win Of East Bowdoinham; Mrs. K. j.
Cowell of West Lebanon Miss Victoria Ar
mold and Mrs. S. e. Percival of Watervile !;
Miss Daisy Waterhouse, Miss B. Partridge.
Mrs. Fl. Z. Merriam, A. Davenport, Mrs. L.
ID. Cooke, Miss Jennie G. Cooke and Miss
Alice Bailey of Gardiner; Il. Boynton of
Biddeford; Miss Martha A. Belcher of Au-
gusta; Miss M. /. Baldwin and Miss G. A
Baldwin of Bangor; Mrs. Eben Webster, E.
c. Webster and Alden Webster of Orono,
are also here.
No Probability of an Extra Session.
The probability is that an extra session
will not be required by the failure of Con-
gress to pass the necessary appropriation
bills. The House has rushed things today,
passing under suspension of the rules the
general deficiency bill, agreeing to the con-
ference report on the river and harbor, and
the Indian appropriation bills, and passing
the legislative. executive and judic-
ial bill. The Senate passed large number
of bills on the calendar and also agreed to
conference report On the river and harbor
bill, which now goes to the President. Alto
gether business has been greatly advanced
and the prospect of getting through by noon
Friday is greatly increased.
The Fishery RetaIiatory Bill.
There is still a prospect that an agreement
Of some kind will be reached upon the fishery
retaliation bill. The point Of difference be-
tween the House and Senate on this bill has
been misstated in the public press. 1t has
been stated that the Senate bill refers only
to the importation or taxation of Canadian
fish, whereas it actually authorized the Presi-
dent to prohibit the importation of all Cana
dian products whether by sea or land. Tho
House bill goes farther and provides for
actual non-intercourse. not only prohibiting
the importation of Canadian products, but
also Canadian cars and rolling stock, and
even passenger traffic between Canada and
the United States, which is virtually a war
measure. The Senate will never consent to
the adoption of such a measure. 1t is be-
lieyed, however. that the House will recede
from its position and that the Senate bill,
which accomplishes all that can be desired,
will finally be adopted.
The Naval Appropriation Bill.
The aggregate increase to the naval appro-
priati0n bill by the Senate committee on APP
priations is between S21, 900, 600 and S220OO.-
900, but inasmuch as the largest expendi
lures cover period of five years 1t is esti-
mated the additional appropriation for the
next fiscal year will not exceed $4,000, 600,
which will raise the aggregate expenditures
lOI tue year W UcbWttu col,UUU.UUU anu SoZ,-
100000. The Senate committee strikes out
the House provision Of S2,470,0O0 for two
steel cruisers and substitutes an appropria.
tion OF S9,0O0,000 for six protected steel
cruisers and S1,200,0O0 to pay premiums for
extra speed OF the same. 1t also appro-
PIRATES 81, $50, 600 for the armament of these
vessels The appropriation of S6,O0O,OO0 is
made for the construction Of heavily armored
vessels, floating batteries and rams, and of
$2,O00,00o for their armament, $4,000 is ap-
propriated for the construction of light draft
gun boats, $4,000 for torpedo boats, $780,
900 for torpedoes and torpedo appliances,
$112, 900 for the purchase of the Destroyer"
and $4,000 for her care and operation. Pro-
visions for the equipment of vessels Is in
creased to 500, 600; that for the purchased of
and improving the ground is increase to
$4,000; and that for rebuilding wharves at
the Boston Navy Yard is increased to S25, 900.
A Political Rumor.
1t is reported among the Virginia polite
ians that Gen. Malone has some idea of sig
nalizing his retirement from the Senate by
the introduction of bill providing for the
assumption of the debt of Virginia by the
general government. Should Senator Ma
hone conclude, to submit such measure It
OF course would be with no anticipation OF
action Of any kind by this Congress, but 1t
might play some part in the approaching leg
islative campaign in Virginia, and might
have some effect in determining his own
chances to secure the seat in the Senate to
be vacated by Mr.. Riddleberger two years
hence.
The Public Debt Statement.
The public debt statement shows that the
reduction of the public debt during Februa-
ry amounted to 81, ,436, 7S2.57. The total cash
in the treasury is $50, ,27S, ,209.65.
The Appropriation Bills.
Senator Allison said at midnight that the
prospect was fair for putting through the
appropriation bills before Friday noon, thus
avoiding an extra session.
Magone Confirmed.
The Senate in secret session has confirmed
the nomination of Daniel Magone to be col
lector OF customs at the port Of New York.
Jimmy Hope Released and Again
Arrested.
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 2S.-Judge Toohy
faAa G..,1 fNsaf int ha halN lNaa.